SOUL:ID

Picture
This:
Three fine-tuned vocalists that have worked with the likes of Craig
David, Youssu’n’Dour, Zap Mama (herself being featured
on Erykah Badu’s latest release), and a new-kid-on-the-block
producer cross paths, merge their creative juices and to their amazement,
realize they are giving birth to a new sound….They can’t
really put a name to it – somewhere in there is a flavour
of their personal music influences: ranging from the classical Donny
Hathaway, the Nu Soul-Philly sound, all the way to Urban HipHop.
Is there a common thread?…absolutely…S.O.U.L!!
The creation of a collective by the name of Soul:ID was the logical
next step for the talented four, now clearly on their way to seduce
the world with their unique recipes of soulful vocals and gut-wrenching
basslines.

The What…
Here’s the setting: four individuals meet, as if by destiny…..
Three singers, borne of the great lakes in Africa, hook up with
an urban producer, all of them having slightly different musical
preferences but a common love for S.O.U.L ….So what happens
in the musical dimension?... Soul music is the essence that holds
these four together and is the raw ingredient that has inspired
the creation of an original sound. Just what is this sound –
for the sake of being proper, let’s just call their musical
output: Afropean.

The Why…
Just how strong can this Afropean-Soul-Essence be? Put it this way,
the four are seasoned musicians, so why not seek individual fame
and glory as solo artists? Answer: friendship ties. Nourished by
a deep friendship, the four have pooled their creative juices, exchanged
artistic soulful-ness: choosing to deflect any ego-serving negativity
with original creations dealing with love, relationships, hopes…well,
you know the deal… The musical landscape painted by the four
is a kaleidoscope of the different experiences, stories, told with
many different flavours of rhythm, melody, rhyme and harmony.
If you can get past the good looks, you’ll quickly realise
that this band is a tight unit made of real people.

The Who…Dad’D: is one half of a dynamic duo production
unit with his older brother - their credits include a multitude
of french major-label R’n’B releases; heavily influenced
by old skool soul (Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway).Urban Deep: a skilled session drummer and beatmaster,
drives the HipHop edge into Soul:ID’s beats. Main influences:
Jay’Dilla’Dee, ?uestlove.Tchaï: experienced, talented female vocalist;
toured the U.S. with ZapMama; still remembers the day she musically
fell in love with D’Angelo & Erykah Badu.V: the stylish, extravagant Soulman – stretches
his talents between singing and photomodeling; has Marvin Gaye,
Bilal & Bob Marley permanently stuck in his cd-player...

The
How…
The whole thing began as Tchaï’s solo project –
an original collaboration between herself and Urban Deep. Their
friend Dad’D was called in on occasion to help out in the
creative process, contributing on compositions and vocal-arrangements.
The vibe and energetic output from the three elevated the sound
to new heights, and so it came as no surprise when someone had the
bright idea to form a collective. In no time at all, a fourth member,
V, was invited to join Tchaï, Urban Deep and Dad’D: V
had been orbiting around them in the studio for some time already….

The When…
Soul:ID are in the studio putting the finishing touches on their
debut album. A promo release of their signature tune,‘Believe’,
is out in circulation in London’s radios and club scene -
distributed by London based ‘One Trak Records’.